week 10- multilingualism

Question 1

what is multilingualism?

Answer 1

•“… the use of two or more languages by an individual or by a speech community” (Swann 2004)

Question 2

what did Trudgill say about multilingualism?

Answer 2

“Many sociolinguists use the term ‘bilingualism’ to refer to individuals, even if they are trilingual, quadrilingual etc. and reserve the term ‘multilingualism’ for nations or societies, even if only two languages are involved” (Trudgill, 2003)

Question 3

what are some causes of multilingualism?

Answer 3

•Voluntary migration •Involuntary migration •Industrialisation •Conquest •Colonial policies

Question 4

what is globalisation?

Answer 4

“… a phenomenon which emphasises interconnectedness across the globe and which encompasses a number of significant economic, cultural and technical aspects.”

Question 5

what are the weaknesses, challenges and strengths of the census method?

Answer 5

• Weaknesses:  
- Limitations on kinds of questions which can be asked 
- Limitations of time and money 
- Who speaks what?
- Definitions: Terminology 
- Definitions: Language vs. dialect 
• Strengths: 
- Great sample-size 
• Challenges: 
- Selecting questions 
- Using and understanding/interpreting data
Romaine, 1994:36-43)

Question 6

what is Linguistic ethnography

Answer 6

Linguistic ethnography is an interpretive approach which studies the local and immediate actions of actors from their point of view and considers how these interactions are embedded in wider social contexts and structures.

Question 7

what is diglossia

Answer 7

DIGLOSSIA is a relatively stable language situation in which, in addition to the primary dialects of the language (which may include a standard or regional standards), there is a very divergent, highly codified (often grammatically more complex) superposed variety
Ferguson (1959:435)

Question 8

what are the three main functions of narrow/ classic diaglossia?

Answer 8

1. Two distinct varieties of the same language are used in the community, with one regarded as the high (or H) variety and the other a low (or L) variety
2. Each variety is used for quite distinct functions; H and L complement each other
3. No one uses the H variety in everyday conversation

Question 9

what did Joshua fishman say about diglossia?

Answer 9

• created a broader definition
• focussed on only one criterion COMPLEMENTARY FUNCTIONS i.e. each variety in a distinct domain
  • He widened the definition of diglossia to encompass speech communities where 2 LANGUAGES are used for distinct functions eg Paraguay (Spanish and Guaraní) = BROAD DIGLOSSIA

Question 10

what did Joan Rubin discover about bilingualism in Paraguay?

Answer 10

• Bilingualism in Paraguay (explored in the 1960s)
• Two main languages used in the community: Spanish and Guaraní (the indigenous language)
• Urban people more likely to be bilingual
• Rural people may be monolingual in Guaraní
• Using Guaraní signals national pride